Dispensing brushes



P 1 1950 c. w. CALDWELL 2,952,027

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FIG. I

INVENTOR. CHARLES W. CALDWELL BY (Pefi vi 5% AGENT United States Patent DISPENSING BRUSHES Charles W. Caldwell, 261 Mulberry St., New York, NY.

Filed Feb. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 717,408

2 Claims. (Cl. 151'31.1)

This invention relates in general to toilet articles which dispense suitable fluids, suds, powders, and the like as they are used to groom the hair or skin. More particularly, this invention relates to a container which may be used as a brush and a dispenser at the same time.

An object of this invention is to provide, as an article of manufacture, a deformable container having spring means within it so that the container may be used to brush the hair or skin as it is manipulated to dispense a suitable powder or liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing brush which may be used equally well to dispense liquids, suds, or dry powders.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing brush which may be more easily manipulated by one hand.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of inven tion reside in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts involved in the embodiment of my invention and its practice otherwise as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the center of my invention before a tongue is cut in its upper part;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the center of my invention with the tongue shown depressed to expel a power;

Fig. 4 is a top view of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of my invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 through 5, my invention consists of the bottom portion 43 to which are attached the integrally molded brush elements 30. The upper part 44 fits over and telescopes about the bottom part 43 and has the finger grip notches 45 to be used to assist in its removal. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a number of regularly spaced apertures 29 are formed directly in the bottom part 43 between the brush elements 30. The container formed by the bottom portion 43 and the upper part 44 holds an inner piece 35. The inner piece 35, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of a large rectangular base which substantially fills the bottom portion 43 and covers all the apertures 29. Extending above this base 36 for its entire length is the smaller upper part 37. The entire inner piece 35 is formed of a porous, resilient material such as sponge rubber, while the container is made from a deformable plastic such as polyethylene. Above the inner piece 35 there is placed the upper seal 46 with its downward turned edges 47 telescoped within the bottom portion 43.

As shown in Fig. 4, a cut 48 is made in the top wall 49 of the upper part 44 to form the tongue 50. This tongue, as shown in Fig. 3, allows the fingers to directly force down the upper seal 46. If a user places a powder on top of the porous base 36, he may then brush a dogs fur with this invention while he holds it in one hand and his fingers depress the tongue 50 to move the seal 46 downwards. Since the seal 46 forms an almost airtight closure with the bottom part 43, air will be expelled from the container and carry with it powder 42 as shown in Fig. 3. Thus a dog may be brushed and have powder applied at the same time. When pressure by the fingers is relaxed on the tongue 50 and the upper seal 46, the resilient upper portion 37 of the inner piece 35 forces the seal 46 back upwards. Then additional pressure on the tongue 50 and the inner seal 46 will dispense more powder.

In a like manner, a suitable soap, solid, liquid, or powder, may be placed on the porous base 36 so that, when the container is immersed in water, water will enter the apertures 29 to dissolve the soap. Then the depression of the tongue 50 and the upper seal 46 will dispense soap suds. The three sided cut 48 forms the tongue 50 having two forward projections 52 and 53 and one recess 54. This is very useful in securing the tongue when it is not being used to depress the upper seal 46. The tongue 50 is secured by tucking the projections 52 and 53 beneath the top wall 49 while the recess 54 rests above the top wall 49. The tongue may be made slightly longer than when first cut out by simply stretching it to ensure this locking action. This stretching of the tongue allows the projections 52 and 53 to extend a slight distance under the top wall 49 and it allows the recess 54 to extend a slight distance over the central projection of the top wall 49.

If this invention is only to be used to dispense powders, the upper seal 46 may be made from paper rather than water resistant plastic. In the dispensing of flea powder, this invention enjoys the advantage that the brush elements 30 part the hair to allow the direct application of the powder to the skin. Also the brushingthen distributes the powder through the hair itself. In the dispensing of soaps or other liquids, the fluids may trickle down the brush elements to be deposited directly on the skin under the hair. As the material is being dispensed, the brushing grooms the hair and removes any foreign matter.

I have here shown and described my invention in the best form known to me. It will be apparent, however, that this invention is not limited to this particular em bodiment except as it may be more particularly limited in the appended claims wherein I claim:

1. A dispensing brush comprising, a combination, a container of resilient'material, a bottom portion of said container having a bottom wall containing apertures and having brush elements extend downward from said bottom wall, a top portion of said container telescoped downwards about said bottom portion and having a top wall, a tongue cut from said top wall, an upper seal slidably telescoped downward within said bottom portion, and an inner piece formed of porous, resilient material having a base which extends over said bottom wall and a smaller upper portion extending upward within said container to said upper seal, said smaller upper portion being deformed and exerting an upward force on said upper seal as said seal is forced downward by the depressing of said tongue.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said tongue has two projections on its end forming a recess between them, said tongue being locked when said projections are tucked and extend slightly beneath said top wall and the edge of said recess rests on said top wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,744,902 Johnston Jan. 28, 1930 1,970,192 Riebel et al Aug. 14, 1934 2,162,907 Bambach June 20, 1939 2,608,705 Duff Sept. 2, 1952 2,726,416 Lepkowski Dec. 13, 1955 2,822,560 Pape Feb. 11, 1958 

